Bridging Networks

[b-forbes]

Due to corporate downsizing, we are now at the mercy of Consultants to configure our routers. I've been told we must change the configuration in all four routers to bridge two networks. Can you confirm and give me an idea of the complexity of the change ?

Network 1.

Router A: Ethernet port 10.1.0.4 (255.255.0.0) connected to 48 port switch.

T1 Serial Port 10.2.1.1 (255.255.0.0) connected to Router B

Router B: T1 Serial Port 10.2.2.2 connected to Router A

Ethernet port 10.3.0.4 (255.255.0.0) connected to 48 port switch.

Network 2

Router C: Ethernet port 192.168.20.1 (255.255.0.0) connected to 24 port switch, T1 Serial port 192.168.20.101 (255.255.0.0) connected to Router D

Router D: Serial port 192.168.11.101 (255.255.0.0) connected to Router C, Ethernet port 192.168.11.1 (255.255.0.0) connected to 24 port switch.

What we need is for PCs on Router A (10.1.1.51 etc) to talk to Hosts on Router D (192.168.11.61 etc).

Both Router B and C reside in the same room. Their solution is to add an ethernet board to Router B (192.168.20.3) and connect it to the switch serviced by Router C. They would charge for the new hardware and 3 hours to install and reconfigure Router B. This seems a little high but they also claim they need 3 hours to reconfigure Router A and 3 hours to reconfigure Router C and 3 hours to reconfigure Router D. I can understand Router B but I don't understand Router A, C and D. Can you help a novice understand ?

[steve.barlow]

First question is are you moving to actually bridging (eg SNA) as per your description or is it routing between sites (ie normal IP connectivity between sites)? If it's routing, it probably won't take that long at all - they only need to add an ethernet card on routerb and configure static routes on all the routers (unlikely this network needs a routing protocol unless there is more to it than you described). Bridging between networks takes more time to configure though.

Ask them for a detailed work list to see what they are doing, if it's adding statics (couple of commands per router) and an ethernet interface it shouldn't take that long.

Steve

[matthew.donahue]

If you are just going to do IP routing between the routers and not actual bridging, this solution will work. The time of 12 hours to configure the 4 routers plus time to install the Ethernet interface is a little rediculas. It should not take more than 2 hours to install the card and configure the 4 routers with static routes.

[netops01]

HI

I actually built this in our lab. Total time, including cabeling and configuring routers from scratch was 110 mins.

I suggest you Consultants are trying to rip you off!.